If you like fishing for scrappy, delicious bluegills, consider visiting one of Arkansas’ small state park lakes this summer. Although these jewels usually cover less than 100 acres, they offer quality angling, splendid scenery and convenient access. Whether you’re looking for solo excitement or a fun getaway with the entire family, these charming waters are ideal.
Lakes Austell and Dunn in Village Creek State Park near Wynne are two lakes that exemplify the old saying “good things often come in small packages.” Although these ridge-top reservoirs only cover 64 and 80 acres, respectively, they both harbor healthy populations of big bluegills. When I worked as a park naturalist at Village Creek, I weighed one Dunn bluegill that tipped the scales at 2 pounds, 14 ounces! There are plenty of great bank fishing spots, or you can launch a boat for even better access to prime waters.
Petit Jean SP southwest of Morrilton encompasses 170-acre Lake Bailey. Lily pads in the lake often harbor big bluegills that find crickets and worms irresistible. Nearby Lake Roosevelt (11 acres) also has lots of hand-sized ‘gills. Visitors can cast from boats (bring your own or rent one here), shore or the handicapped-accessible fishing pier on Lake Bailey.
Forty-acre Lake Bennett, in Woolly Hollow State Park near Greenbrier, was constructed in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration. Today it serves as a popular recreation lake for swimming, boating, camping, picnicking and, of course, fishing. Many anglers here enjoy fly fishing for bluegills with popping bugs and sponge-rubber spiders. Canoes, kayaks and pedal boats can be rented according to the park website, but check with the park beforehand to determine availability.
The 12-acre fishing lake in Davidsonville Historic SP just outside Pocahontas doesn’t have a boat ramp (or a name), but big bluegills can be caught from the barrier-free fishing pier or from fishing boats (trolling motors only) available for rent.
At just 8 acres, Lake Devil in Devil’s Den SP near Winslow is the smallest of our state park lakes, but here, too, visitors can thrill to the tug of bluegills on the line. The fish don’t grow very large, but there are lots of them to keep the action exciting.
May luck be with you!
